FALL RIVER — Today, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will take up the issue of whether to extend the application period for a commercial gaming license in the southeastern region after several requests, including one from a possible new player in the game looking to develop a casino.

Depending on the commission’s ruling, it could mean extra competition for Foxwoods Resort Casino, which plans to locate in Fall River, and KG Urban Enterprise, which hopes to locate on the New Bedford waterfront.

On March 14, an attorney representing Mass Gaming & Entertainment LLC, an affiliate of Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, notified the commission his client was interested in pursuing a license in the southeastern region, know as Region C, and requested an extension of the application deadline to Dec. 31 from the current date of July 23.

Elaine Driscoll, spokeswoman for the Gaming Commission, said Mass Gaming is an applicant and is in Phase 1 of the process. Phase 1 involves evaluating the qualification and suitability of applicants looking to receive a gaming license.

According to published reports, Mass Gaming dropped a plan for a slots parlor in Millbury last year.

Driscoll said the commission’s Division of Investigation and Enforcement will likely advise the members of a timeline needed to complete its investigation of Mass Gaming.

The gaming company is also asking for a variance to the gaming law’s minimum $500 million investment for a casino license, which does not include the cost of land or infrastructure.

The attorney writes that Mass Gaming has put together funding of about $700 million, in excess of the $500 million requirement, but would be below the amount factoring out the capital investment.

In the company’s preliminary project budget they intend to spend only $375 million to $400 million for the resort casino facility.

The change was requested for all applicants in Region C.

The variance is likely to be granted because whichever resort casino project is granted a commercial gaming license could be in competition with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, which is seeking a tribal license in Taunton.

If commercial and tribal gaming licenses are issued, the lawyer argued, the Mashpee Wampanoags would not have to pay taxes and would, therefore, be able to spend more money on promoting the effort.

A potential Mass Gaming location was not included in the letter to the commission, and Driscoll said they have not informed the agency of a site.

A request for an interview with Mass Gaming was declined.

A possible location could be in Bridgewater at a 171-acre site owned by the Claremont Companies, which had been in talks with several casino developers early in the process.

In November, Claremont Companies Vice President Patrick Carney Jr. said his firm was unlikely to move forward on a casino proposal with a partner if Raynham Park were awarded the state’s sole slots license.

In February, the Gaming Commission rejected the Raynham application, awarding it to Plainville.

Mass Gaming also indicated that if it did not receive a variance, it would likely not apply for the Region C license.

Officials from both Fall River and New Bedford will be awaiting the Gaming Commission’s decision to extend the July 23 deadline.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, the City Council and KG Urban Enterprises separately solicited the Gaming Commission to extend a July 23 application deadline in a letter from the city’s attorneys.

The city of New Bedford requested a 60-day extension and proposed the Gaming Commission waive its requirement that a referendum be held before a casino proposal can be filed. The city said it would give casino developers more time and provide more competition in the spirit of the gaming law.

KG Urban requested a deadline date of Oct. 23 and said their development efforts had been hindered by misconceptions of the commission’s delay in opening a commercial gaming license and the likelihood of the Mashpee Wampanoags operating a casino in the region.

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan and Kenneth Fiola Jr., the Fall River Office of Economic Development vice president, both wrote letters to the commission asking it not to extend the deadline, saying Foxwoods and the city are prepared to meet it.

With a host community agreement set for completion in less than a week, Fiola said, the city will hold off until the Gaming Commission makes its ruling on an extension.